Journal of Materials Science Research and Reviews

Phytochemical analysis was carried out on the leaves and stem extracts of Commelinabenghalensis L and Acanthospermumhispidum DC plants to determine their corrosion inhibition potentials. The leaves and stem parts were processed by washing, air-drying under shade and then ground into powder.  Stock solutions were then extracted from these materials using ethanol according to standard procedures. Quantitative and qualitative analysis were carried out on the extracts in accordance with standard procedures. These analyses showed the presence and composition of the extracts as alkaloids (7.2%), flavonoids (11.2%), saponins (4.1%), tannins (10.3%) and phenols (5.6%). The qualitative analysis also confirmed in addition, the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides and steroids. Anthraquinones were, however, found to be absent. These chemical substances are known to contain oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur atoms in their molecules which are regarded as adsorption centers in the process of corrosion inhibition. FTIR analysis was also used to identify the presence of functional groups in these extracts. The results of these analyses suggest that extracts of these plants could serve as materials for the production of corrosion inhibitors since they contain phyto-constituents that are known to have inhibitive properties against mild steel corrosion.